Television still picture receiver



Nov. 24, 1953 J. H. HAMMOND, JR, ET AL TELEVISION STILL PICTURE RECEIVER Filed Dec. 6, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet l Zhmentors JOHN HAYS HAMMONILJR. ELLISON S. PURINGTON.

Gttorneg 1953 J. H. HAMMOND, JR, ET AL ,660,6 6

TELEVISION STILL PICTURE RECEIVER Filed Dec. 6, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 TRIPLE 25 E: 3 "H EZPROCESSING j 3 l I l 1 67 j" HEAD 3 a 76 REC El VER s Inventors JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR

B ELL! so N s, PU RI N GTO N,

Nov. 24, 1953 Filed Dec. 6, 1950 J. H. HAMMOND, JR. ET AL 2,660,616

TELEVISION STILL PICTURE RECEIVER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 E W Ihmentors JOHN H Avs HAMMOND,JR.

ELLISON SpPURING'T'ON;

, attorne NOV. v1953 J. H. HAMMOND, JR. ET AL 2,660,616

TELEVISION STILL PICTURE RECEIVER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 6, 1950 3nvcntors JOHN HAYS HAMMOND,JR.

8 ELLJSQN S. PURlNGTON.

Gttorncg 1953 J. H. HAMMOND, JR, ET AL 2,660,616

TELEVISION STILL PICTURE RECEIVER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 6, 1950 OWN WWW

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Mm wmrrumm Gttomgg Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlce TELEVISION STILL PICTURE RECEIVER John Hays Hammond, Jr., and Ellison S. Purington, Gloucester, Mass.; said Purington assignor to said Hammond, Jr.

This invention relates to a television receiving system which provides for extracting a plurality of still pictures from the transmitted material received on a television picture screen, and prothe beams carrying the usual television programs and the special still picture for television news purposes;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line jecting them in repeated sequence for an ex- 5 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking down onto a part of the tended period of time upon a screen which is inelectronic chassis from which the beams rise dependent of the television picture screen. for the two screens of the prior figures;

One of the objects of this invention is to make Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the elecespecially noteworthy news and pictorial matetrical circuits of the receiver, mainly relating to rial available subsequent to the use of a television initiating the recording operation of the receiver; channel for its transmission. Fig. 5 i a schematic diagram showing further Another object i to provide news and pictorial circuits of the receiver in continuation of Fig. 4, material which can be observed at the convenmainly relating to the recording operation of the ience of the spectators, at a time subsequent to receiver system; its transmission. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing further Another object is to provide advertisers with a circuits of the receiver in continuation of Fig. 5, much greater effective period of advertising time mainly relating to the processing and projecting than that required for the transmission of their operation or the receiver system; and advertising material. Fig. '7 is a chart showing the timing relation- In a co-pending application Serial No. 199,533, ships or various operations in accordance with filed December 6, 1950 for Transmitter System the invent on. has been shown a transmitter system for sending ke e e ce C a act rs denote like part in a plurality of still pictures in quick succession, the several figures of the drawing. subsequent to the transmission of a distinctive In the following d pt pa s w ll be idencontrol signal on the same video channel which t fi d p fi m s for Convenience, but t later transmits the still pictures.

In the present invention, receiving means is provided for initiating the operation of special receiver circuits in response to the transmitted. control signal, recording the plurality of pictures at times when they are being sent, processing the recordings and subsequently projecting the processed recording upon a screen in repeated succession.

The invention further provides that when a new set of pictures is transmitted, the pictures which have been displayed due to the preceding transmissions will be discontinued, and the projecting device be so reset that the first recorded picture of the new set will be the first to be projected.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The nature or" the invention as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of it organization, may be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the upper part of receiver system in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the optical parts and are intended to be generic in their application to similar parts.

In Fig. 1, showing the front elevation of the upper part of a typical receiver system, the main TV chassis it is at the bottom of the figure, and the TV program screen ll upon which normal television program appear is at the top. Between is a smaller screen l2 upon which the still picture material designated TV News appears subsequent to its momentary appearance on the upper screen. On the vertical panel of the chassis lii appear the customary controls and indicating devices l3 to l! for properly tuning in the TV program which carrie the TV news material.

On Fig. 2, showing schematically a cross sectional view of Fig. 1, taken from the side, the 10- cations of elements it to I! of Fig. l are shown, together with vertically rising optical beams l8 and 89 for the TV program and the TV news screens, together with reflecting mirrors 28 and 2i by which the beams are directed to the screens. The beam for TV program purposes is shown as starting at the corrective lens 22 of a Schmidt type projector 23, utilizing a kinescope symbolized by circle 2!; with axis in the horizontal plane, a concave mirror symbolized by circle 25 and a plane mirror at 45 symbolized by square 25. A projector system of this type is described by Boyle and Doll, Compact projection television system, in Electronics, April 194-8,

This projection system is a well known article of commerce, and need not be described in further detail, except as to features of the concave mirror discussed below. The vertical beam for the TV news screen is shown as originating in a plane mirror 27, mounted with its surface at an angle of to make a 90 bend in a beam travelling in a horizontal direction. Although three sets of lines are shown, all reaching the same position in the TV news screen, they diverge from separate sources 28, 29, and 30. These symbolize oints within three separate projection lenses for the three individual still pictures of a set, and it will beunderstood that at a given time, only one of the three parts of the beam is operative.

With reference to Fig. 3, whichis aview looking down into the chassis, the elements 22, 24, 25, 26 of the projection system 23 are shown, also the mirror 2'! for the TV news beam. Here the horizontal part of the TV news beainis shown with thepoints 23, 2d, Sllat cross over points within projection lenses 3!, 32, 33 respectively, with.

axes inthe h rizontal plane.

In the present arrangement, the still pictures arerecorded. on continuous film 3 3, initially stored on a reel within a light: proof compartment 35. which is suitably attached to: the projection assembly 23. This film is threaded bet-ween rollers and3'i, thence in front of a recording, lens. 38 withiris and shuter not shown, the lensv barrel being inserted through a hole in the-concave mirror 25 of the projection system to accept pictures from the face of the kinescope and force them on the film when the shutter is opened. Thence the film passes in front of a processing head 39 of the type described by Tuttle and Brown, Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, February 1950, except that it is arranged only for processing pictures, and that provisions are for processing three pictures at the no time. For this purpose three individual processing heads maybe made" up inone single block, suitably heated and controlled as to temperature by electrical heaters and tl'iermostats, and provided with suitable valves not shown in parallel for passing developer, fixed, wash-water and drying air in turn over thepart of the film being processed. Thence the film passes through an opening 43 in the light-prooi chamber 36; andpasses between the three projection lcnses2B,. 2t; 3t and their correspondinglight sources 41, 42, 43. These latter include lamps M', 45, 4G, with terminals :11, 5B,.

49; 50; 51, JZrespectively and condensing lenses 53154; Eirespectively. Thence the film passes around, a pull-up wheel which may be advanced bya solenoid cl with terminals 58 and '59-.

'Ilhence itpasses around roilers to and 5!, thelatter being arranged with its center pin mountedionanarrn B2 pivoted at 63 and held against the-film 34 by a spring 64. Thence the film 34 passes around awind-up reel 65.

Ihe storage reel 35and the rollers 56 and 31 are so constructed as to provide sufficient friction that the film will not be advanced excessively -when the pull-up wheel 56 is actuated. The wind-up reel may be driven from a motor with slipping clutch, or may be driven from the pull-up wheel 56.

The pull-up wheel assembly is driven by the arm- 66 which engages a circular ratchet wheel not shown. It will'be understood'the solenoid 5T is -self restoring at the end of each impulse on terminals 58 and 55, by a spring device not shown.

The construction is such that the pull-u assembly advances the film accurately by a definite amount such as five sprocket holes in a standard film. It will be understood that the various parts will be suitably located so that the centers of the latent images will register properly with respect to the centers of the orifices in the processing head; and so thatthe processed pictures on the film will register correctly between a condenser lens and its corresponding projection lens. Thus for example, when the first latent image of a set is produced in front of the recording lens, it will require f our operations of the pull-upwheel to place this latent image in front of the: forwardmost processing orifice. After processingit will requireiour operations of the pull-up: wheel to place the film picture in registry with. the forwardmost projection system. Thus foreach set of pictures, the pull-up wheel operates frames such as three, that the shutter system;

is self-restoring upon discontinuance of current. through terminals 6i} and: 69.

The distance between centers of theprocessingc orifices of head. 39 and the distances between: centers of the light supply assemblies fl, 42, and? 43- are accurately set to correspond to the pull-up distance provided by each stroke of solenoidili. However the distancebetween centers-of the projection lens systems 3!, 32, 33 are slightlyless: so that theproj ected' images will occupy the'samee area ofthe'screen' l2 of Figs; l and 2;. regardless of which image is beingv projected.

Thetransmitted television picture into which the three still pictures, preceded by a distinctive control signal, have been inserted, as" described for example in co-pending applicationabove're ferried to',.is picked up by an antenna 13, and fed to:atelevisionreceiver ill' of conventional construction, but provided. with video outputter' minalsldandld connected by a shieldedline l-T" tothecontrol grid of kinescope 24 by wires asso-- ciated with the box .23 not shown. Also the: receiver is connected by cable lllto the kindscope system which carries current for focusing" coils, deflection coils, heaters and cathodes: also not shown; The system differs from that ofa standard projection type receiver in that terminalsl5 and '16 are available for driving acir cuit which supplies operating current for shutter solenoid Bl, pull-up-solenoid 51 and the pro jection lamps 44, 45, and 46 at suitabletimes. Forthis-purpose, hot video terminal l5is=-connectedthrough resistors 19', inseries tothe' grounded video terminal 16, and an external terminal 8| is connected to the junction of-resistors- T9 "and -80, while external terminal 82" is connected to the ground terminal 16. terminals are connected tosimilarly numbered terminals of Fig. l'by' wires not shown.

It is seen that Fig. 3 shows all the electrical elements of the system-except the timing circuits by which thetwo solenoids and the'three-lamps are properly operated. Many varieties of timers can be constructed for such purposes; and those are illustrated by the forms disclosed in- Figs; '4,

These 5, 6 taken in connection with the timing diagram of Fig. 7.

Three separate timers are indicated, first a high speed timer which provides for alternate operations of the shutter solenoid 61 to take the picture and of the pull-up solenoid 51 to advance the film and ultimately bring the three latent images in registration with the orifices of the processor head. A medium speed timer is then required to operate the valves for the developing, fixing, washing, drying operation, and finally to provide four pull-ups of solenoid to bring the developed images into registration with the pro jection systems. Finally a low speed timer is required to control the illumination of the lamps to project the pictures in repeated sequence. It is important that the high speed timer be set into operation a definite time after the initial reception of the control signal, so that the three latent images will properly be a record of the three pictures transmitted. For this purpose an electrical control system is chosen such as described in the co pending application above referred to permitting the construction of a receiving circuit free from disturbances from the content of the regular video program, and which will provide accurate initiation of the high speed timer. The timer itself is of the electronic counter type, driven from 6 0 cycle current surficiently synchronous with the similar counter in the transmitter. For the medium and slow speed timers, self-starting synchronous motors are used. The motor for the medium speed timer runs a definite period after being set in motion. At the conclusion of this period the first timer runs continuously, except that when the medium speed motor starts to operate, the low speed timer motor first speeds up to complete its cycle quicker than normal, and stops until the medium speed motor shuts old. In this slow speed projection timer, provision is made for cutting supply current for the projection lamps immediately on start of the processing timer, and restoring it when the processing timer stops.

The circuits of Fig. 4 are constructed assuming the control signal is of the type in the co-pending application above referred to. This signal comprises a video frequency wave which is shifted at an audio rate between two frequency values. The values and the rate are harmonics of the horizontal and the vertical sweep frequencies, respectively, so that during the short interval of transmission, a stationary pattern corresponding to the control signal appears on the TV program screen.

In Fig. 4, the input terminals 8H and 82 are connected to the like numbered terminals of Fig. 3. The terminal 3| is connected through capacitor 83 to the grid of a pentode tube 84, between which and ground line 85 is connected an inductor 86 and. a capacitor 81 in parallel and broadly tuned to the mean of the frequency band of the control signal. Input terminal at is connected to the ground line. The pentode 84 has the usual cathode biasing resistor 88 and capacitor 89, and screen and anode batteries as and SI and its output circuit comprises primary 92, condenser 93, secondary 84 and condenser 95, suitably coupled to give selective response to all the constituents of the control signal and discriminate against all other signals in the video circuits of the receiver. This coupled circuit system operates through resistor 96 onto the grid of a pentode 91, which in turn is connected to ground line 85 by resistor 98. The grid swing a I) i) is limited by clipper diodes 99, I00 biased by bat teries IBI and I02 so that the grid swing is substantially the same regardless of the value of the amount of control signal at input terminals BI, 82. The pentode Il'I has associated cathode bias resistor I I13 and capacitor I04, and screen and anode batteries I05 and we and may be arranged also to serve as a limiter device. The output of this pentode operates into a tuned circuit comprising capacitor I 0'! and inductor Hi8, the center tap of which is connected to one end of a blocking capacitor H39, the other end of which is connected to ground through resistor Hi! and inductor III, and also is connected to the center tap of secondary coil IIZ which has mutual.

inductance with primary coil I93. Across the coil? I I2 is connected a tuning capacitor I I3, one end; of which is connected through a resistor II4 to;- the cathode of a diode detector I I5 and the other" end of which is connected through a resistor IIG; to the cathode of a diode detector Ill, The anode of diode I i5 is connected to ground through resistor I IS shunted by capacitor I I9, and is connected through resistor I28 to the grid of an audio amplifier triode I 2|; similarly the anode of diode it? is connected to ground through resistor I22 shunted by capacitor I 23, and is connected through resistor I24 to the grid of an audio amplifier triode I25. The arrangement of the circuits between pentode 91 and the diodes H5 and II? is that of a discriminator, which distributes impressed energy close to one of the horizontal sweep harmonics to one detector, and energy close to the other harmonic to the other detector, so that the output audio signals are of the same frequency corresponding to the chosen harmonic of the vertical sweep frequency. They are, however, out of phase, and therefore the triodes IZI and I 25 are connected in push pull manner. These triodes have a common cathode bias battery I26 and plate battery I21, with center tapped output coil I28 paralleled by capacitor I29, and with the plate ends of the inductor connected to the center tap by capacitors I30 and ISI. This output system is tuned to the audio frequency of the control signal. It serves as a selective limiter since increase of the output of the discriminator produces greater D. C. flow through the resistors H8 and I22 to increase the bias and reduce the gain of the audio amplifier. This output circuit is loosely coupled to a circuit comprising inductor I 32 and capacitor I33, tuned to the audio frequency, with one end connected through resistors I36 and I 35 to the grid of a triode I35 suitably biased by cathode resistor It? and capacitor I33. The other end is connected to ground line 85. Bridged across the input to tube E36 between the junction of resistors ltd and I35 and the ground line is a pair of clipping diodes 39 and Hit arranged with bias batteries IAII and I42 to limit the A. C. value of the input to the triode. The output of the triode E36 powerized by battery ISIla comprises a coupled circuit selective transformer with primary inductor I39a and capacitor I IDa and secondary inductor Mia and capacitor IdZa. Qne end of each of the secondary elements MI and I 32 is connected to ground line 85, while the other ends are connected to the anode of a rectifier I43, the cathode of which is connected to ground line 85 through resistor I 44 shunted by capacitor M5, and is also connected through resistor M6 and I4? to ground line 85. The junction of these two resistors is connected to ground by capacitor I48, and: is connected through resistor I49 to the grid of a relay tube I50, anode power for which is supplied by a battery II, the negative end of which is connected to ground line 85. The positive end of battery I61 is connected through resistor 162 to the cathode of triode I50, which in turn is connected to ground through resistor I53; it is also connected to high voltage line I54 and output terminal I55. Between the anode of triode I60 and the positive end of battery I5I is connected a capacitor I56 and the winding I51 of a relay I58. This relay has an armature I59 connected to ground line 85, normally held against a back contact I60 by a spring I6I, and has a front contact I62.

The circuits of Fig. 4 so far described provide for amplifying, limiting, amplifying and push.- pull detecting, the video frequency energy corresponding to the control signal in well known manners. The recorded audio signal output of both detectors is combined additively in a selective amplifier, limited, selectively amplified, and impressed upon a rectifier system to produce control voltage for the relay tube and relay. Be-. cause of the limiting actions imposed upon the control signals, the audio signal impressed upon. the rectifier I43 is substantially independent of the amount of control signal impressed upon pentode 84, assuming the main television controls have been set so that a reasonably proper inten sity and contrast has been obtained. for the TV program presentations. Moreover selectivity features of the circuit make the input to the rectifier I43 fairly completely free from undesired disturbances. Accordingly the build up time of the rectifier output circuit I44 to I46 between the start of the control signal and the actuation of the relay I58 is quite definite. The circuits may be so arranged that this time interval is of the order of '5 TV frames, as indicated in the chart of Fig, 1.

The anode of triode I50 is also connected through resistor I88 to the terminal I64, and the front contact I62 of relay I58 is connected to the terminal I65. Thus after closure of the relay I58,

if the terminals I64 and I65 are connected together current flows to ground from the positive end of battery I5I, through the winding I51 of the relay and resistor I63, and this is of sufiicient magnitude to hold the relay closed after the control signal has ceased. The relay will be restored however, when the connection between terminals I64 and I65 is subsequently broken, to reset the relay system for operation by a subsequent control signal.

The function of the relay I58 is to initiate an electronic counter system for operating the shut.- ter and pull-up solenoids of Fig. 3. The counter is supplied with a driving square wave pulse train from a transformer I66, the primary I61 of which is connected to a 60 cycle source or may be driven from the vertical sweep frequency of the television receiver system. One end of the secondary I68 is connected to ground line 85, while the other is connected through resistors I69 and I to'the grid of a counter driver triode I1 I, the cathode of which is biased positively with respect to ground by current through resistor I12 shunted by capacitor I13. Between the junction of resistors I69 and I10 and ground line 85 is bridged a positive clipper comprising diode I14 in series with resistor I shunted by capacitor I16, anda negative clipper comprising diode I11 in series with resistor I16 shunted by a capacitor I19. These clippers pass current when the voltage of the secondary I68 exceeds prescribed limits, both negative and. positive, to develop a square wave across the junction of resistors I and I10 to ground line 85. The grid of driver I11 is connected to back contact I60 of the relay I58, the armature of whichis connected to ground. when the relay is in the normal position, therefore, the grid of triode "I is not actuated by the pulse train, but after closure of the relay by the control signal and during the period after the control signal has ceased and current is flowing in the holding resistor I63, the square wave pulse train is impressed on the counter driver triode Ill. The anode of this triode is connected. to the high voltage line I 54 through output resistor I80, and to the input terminal I of the first of four decal counters of standard construction, three of which are shown in Fig. 4 and the remainder in Fig. 5. Counters of this type are adequately described by Grosdoff, RCA Review. It will sufiice to describe but one of these units, as for example the first designated MV-I, 2. This utilizes a duotriode tube, with two triodes designated I and 2 respectively, with the odd numbered tube normally passing current externally to the counter unit. Thus the terminal B of the counter is connected to the high voltage line I54, input terminal I connected to the source of square wave and output terminal 0 is connected to the input terminal of the subsequent stage. The grid return terminal for the odd numbered triode, C1 is connected to a reset line IBI connected to the reset terminal i32, while the grid return C2 for the even numbered triode is connected to ground line connected to terminal I83. The cathode terminal K for both triodes is connected to cathode line 134 connected to terminal I65 and the positive end of cathode battery I88, the negative end of which isconnected to ground line 85. In addition to the six terminals B, I, 0, C1, C2, and K there are suitable terminals, not shown, for supplying current to the heaters of the triodes, also not shown.

Within the counter unit, the anodes of the triodes I and 2 are connected through individual plate resistors Ba and Rh to a junction point which is connected through a common plate resister Re to terminalB and is connected through a blocking capacitor C to input terminal I. The anode of triode I is also connected through resistor Re to the grid of triode 2, which is con.- nected through resistor Re to the terminal Ca. Correspondingly, the anode of triode 2 is also connected through Resistor Rf to the grid of triode I which is connected through resistor Hg to the terminal C1. The counters MV-.3, 4; MV-5, 6 of Fig. 4 and MV-1, 8 of Fig. 5 are similarly constructed and designated.

The counteris set up for operation by freeing terminal I82 from external connections so that the odd numbered triodes have their grids slightly above cathode potential due to their connections to the B terminal, by the resistors Rf, through which grid current flows, serving as a limiter. Currents of considerable magnitude flow through the resistors Re and Rh to the odd numbered anodes, as indicated, depressing the anode voltages of these tubes so that the grids of the even numbered tubes are suihciently below cathode potential to make little or no current flow to the anodes of the even numbered tubes. When the reset line is connected to ground, there is insufficient change in the plate currents to cause counter operations. Each counter changes its conditions in response to a negative change or potential at its input terminal, but not in response to a positive change. Thus when the relay I58 closes to release the pulse train, the counter MV-I, 2 changes its condition at the instant of the first negative change at I, causing current to cease flowing to triode I and causing current to flow to the triode 2. The first change in the output terminal for this counter is positive, which does not influence the second counter, but the second change in the output terminal is negative, which operates the second counter. Thus, during operation the first counter MV-I, 2 is actuated with a 60 cycle square wave input, and delivers a 30 cycle square wave output to the next counter Mike, 4. This delivers 15 cycle square wave output to counter MV-5, 6, the output terminal of which is a 7.5 cycle square wave delivered to the output terminal connected to terminal I37 of Fig. 4. Turning now to Fig. 5, with input terminals I55, :81, 883, I85, I82, I65 and I64 connected by wires not shown to like numbered terminals of Fig. 4, the final counter MV-I, 8 is actuated by a square wave form at 7.5 cycles and delivers a square wave form of frequency 3.75 cycles.

Thus, with reference to Fig. 7, assuming the relay I58 operates to release the pulse train at an ideal instant, the output wave forms of the first and last counter will be timed as shown by the traces marked anode I and anode I. Changes of potential of anode I in one sense or the other occur every & second, which is the counting interval. At the counts of 8, 24, 40, etc. the anode I changes positively, at the counts of 16, 32, 48, etc. it changes negatively. The positive changes may be used to initiate the operation of the recording solenoid I31 and the negative changes to initiate the operations of the pull-up solenoid 51. When the transmitter timing is as indicated in the diagram, corresponding to the timing schedule or copending application Serial No. 119,533 and the constants of the relay circuit 543 to I52 of Fig. 4 are properly adjusted, the receiving camera shutter will be opened during a time interval in the center of the picture transmissions. Since four pull-up operations are required, the fourth operation of the shutter will not be of a picture which is required, and it will not be developed or projected.

In Fig. 5, the output terminal 0 of the decal counter MV-i, i3 is connected through a resistor I83 to the grid of a power triode I 89, which is connected through resistor I90 to ground line 85. The cathode of triode I99 is connected through a resistor I 9| to ground line 85, and through a resistor I 92 to the high voltage line I 93 "to which the positive end of a battery I 94 is connected, the negative end of which is connected to ground line 95. The anode of triocle I99 is connected to terminal 69 connected to one end of the winding of the shutter solenoid 61, the other end of which is connected to terminal 69 and the line I93.

when the terminal 0 of the counter MV-I, 8

The adjustments are such that changes positively, the triode I99 passes current to operate the solenoid, and when it goes negatively, the triode I99 passes insufiicient current to hold the solenoid. Therefore the shutter of the recording lens is operated shortly after the counts or" 8, 24, 40 and 53. The exposure time being .1 second corresponding to six counts, the solenoid is released at the counts of 16, 32, 48 and 64 after the shutter has closed, and each time the shutter is reset for the next operation,

To operate the pull-up solenoid, use is made of the wave form at the anode of tube I89, which drops in potential when the shutter solenoid pulls in, but increases in potential when the shutter is released at the counts of 16, 32, 48 and 65. For this purpose, the anode of triode I89 is connected through capacitor I to grid of triode I96, which in turn is connected through resistor IE1 to ground line 85. The operation of the prior circuits causes an elongated positive pulse to be applied to the grid of triode I96 just after the release of the shutter solenoid 61, which is utilized to operate the pull-up solenoid 51. The circuit for this purpose also provides for operation of the pull-up solenoid after the proc essing or" the film, to bring it into the projection system. The triode I96 has its anode connected through a resistor I98 to high voltage line I93, this resistor being of low value since the plate output voltage is not utilized. The cathode is connected to ground through resistor I99, and through resistor 209 to the anode of a unidirectional conductor ZIJI, the cathode of which is connected through a resistor 292 shunted by capacitor 203 to the ground line 85. The cathode is also connected through a resistor 204 to a terminal 205 adjacent to a terminal 206 connected to the high voltage line I93. The cathode is also connected through a resistor 29'! to the grid of a power triode 208, the cathode of which is connected through resistor 209 to ground line '85 and through resistor 2I0 to the high voltage line I93. The anode of triode 208 is connected through terminal 59 to the one end of the winding of solenoid 51, the other end of which is connected through terminal 53 to the high voltage line I93. The arrangements are such that 'when there is no pulse through capacitor I95, the current through diode 2M and thence to ground through resistor 202 is insufficient to cause enough current to flow in the winding of the solenoid 57 to cause it to operate. When, however, the anode of triode I89 swings positive, at the timer counts of 16, 32, 48, 64, the resulting pulse through capacitor I95 is sufficiently great and the time constant of the circuit I95, I97 sufficiently long that the voltage across resistor 202 and smoothing capacitor 203 becomes sufiiciently great to cause operation of the triode 208 to operate the solenoid 51. This solenoid drives the pull-up wheel 56 of Fig. 3 by means of a ratchet arm 69, ratchet wheel 209 with a detent wheel 2 I 0 and detent mechanism til I by which the pull- 'up wheel is made to turn exactly revolution each operation of the solenoid. The solenoid and ratchet arm are restored by a spring 2I2, and a spring around the pin of the ratchet arm 66, not shown, may be used to cause the ratchet arm to re-engage the ratchet wheel 29s on the reset stroke.

The ratchet wheel 299 which drives the pull-up wheel 56 also drives a disc 2I3 which may serve as an indicator of the number of pull-ups. As shown, the indication through a hole in the index 2M is zero. Primarily, however, the disc serves to reset the primary relay I58 of Fig. 4, to reset the counters to zero, and to initiate the processing of the pictures, after the fourth pull-up. For this purpose a detent M5 is provided, and a detent switch 2M5, with a fixed contact 2" connected to the high voltage line I93, and the 22I to ground line 85. After the completion of four cycles of the electronic counter, and four operations of the shutter and pull-up solenoids, so that the latent images have been made and moved into position for processing, the detent 2 I 5 comes around at the indication of 4 so that the spring arm 2 I8 of: switch 2 I 6 is in contact with the contact 2I1. Current thereupon flows through the relay Winding M9 to cause operation of the relay 220. This relay remains closed until the ratchet is again advanced. This is done at a later time by external connection between terminals 205 and 206 which puts positive voltage on the grid of tricde 203 to operate the pull-up solenoid, in a manner to be described later.

The relay 220 has three leaves, 22I, 222, 223 the first having a front contact 224, and the others having back contacts 225 and 226. These leaves all operate together, being mechanically connected by an insulating bar 221. The armature leaf HI and its front contact 224 are connected to terminals 228 and 229 for use in starting the processor timer. The second leaf 222 is connected to the counter reset line I8I, with junction terminals I82, by which it is connected to the grid return terminals C1, C3, C5, C7 of the odd numbered triodes of the counter. The back contact 225 is connected to the ground line 85. This second assembly is for the purpose of ungrounding the reset line to cause the anodes of the odd numbered counter triodes to draw current while the ratchet index is in the fourth position, which condition will remain after the release of relay 220 to again connect the reset line I to ground. The third leaf 223 is connected to terminal I64 and thence to the holding resistor I63 for relay I58, while its back contact 226 is connected through terminal I65 to the front contact tact I62 of relay I48, the armature of which is connected to ground. When the relay I58 operates due to the control signal, the index wheel of the pull-up is at zero, and the relay 220 in the normal condition shown. The relay I58 is then held closed since relay 220 is open, and so continues after the control signal ceases, until the relay 220 operates at the index of four, when the holding current for the relay is broken. This discontinues the pulse train and leaves the relay ready for a later control signal.

Accordingly the detent at the fourth position of the pull-up ratchet provides an electrical signal which can initiate the start of the medium speed processing timer, and also terminates the high speed timer and resets the counter and ini tiating relay for later actuation.

The circuits of Fig. 5 may be modified in a number of ways in accordance with personal desires of the designer. Thus, primary relays operated by both triodes of the counter MV-1, 6 could be used to control the solenoids; or a relay with a delay slug, as a substitute for resistor I98 could be used to control the solenoid 51; or a three section detent switch could be used in place of single switch 2 I 5 and the relay 220.

In Fig. 6 is shown the medium speed timer for processing the latent images left properly in registration at the processing head 39 of Fig. 3, and for pulling up the processed pictures to the projection position to register correctly with the projection lens systems. Also in this figure is shown the low speed timer for controlling the operation of the projection lamps 44, 45, 46. These circuits are powerized from a 60 cycle or other A. C. source externally connected to terminals 230 and 23I. Terminals 228 and 229 are connected to 12 similarly numbered terminals of Fig. 5 by conductors not shown.

The medium speed timer includes a self-starting synchronous motor 232 direct coupled by a shaft 233 to a reducing gear set 234, which in turn drives a slow speed shaft 235 on which are mounted three timing discs 236, 231, and 236. Conditions are shown when the motor is at rest.

The slow speed timer includes a self-starting synchronous motor 239, direct coupled by a shaft 240 to a two speed gear set 24I, with output shaft 242 on which are mounted a timer disc 243 and a timer disc 244. An A. C. and D. C. converting rectifier 245 actuated when motor 232 is actuated, is used to a gear shifting solenoid 246 and is used to operate a relay 241 for use in resetting the projection timer and blanking out the operation of the projection lamps. Conditions are shown when the slow speed timer is discontinuing the projection of the third picture by extinguishing lamp 46 which projects the third developed picture, and starting the projection of the first picture by energizing the lamp 44.

More specifically, power terminal 230 is connected to terminals 240 and 250 of motors 232 and 230 respectively, and to terminal 252 of the rectifier 245. The energization of these devices is accomplished by switching devices interposed between power terminal 23I and the other terminals 249, 25I and 253 of these devices. However, terminal 253 of the rectifier 245 is direct connected to terminal 249 of the motor 232 so that the rectifier will be actuated Whenever the motor 232 is actuated.

Referring now to the medium speed timer driven by motor 232, the timer disc 236 has a detent 254 operating in connection with a detent switch 255 with movable leaf 256 connected to terminal 228 and motor terminal 249, while a front contact 251 is connected to terminal 229 and terminal 23I. In the position indicated, the detent switch is open, but is adjusted so that it will be closed when the disc is turned from the indicated position. The motor 232 is started by closure of relay 220 of Fig. 5, thereby connecting terminal 228 to terminal 229. It then continues to turn due to the subsequent closure of the detent switch. Before the completion of a revolution of the disc 236, the relay 220 open for reasons to be described, so that when the revolution is completed and the detent switch 255 opens, the motor 232 stops to await a subsequent operation of the starting relay 220. In this manner, the medium speed timer is self resetting. The second disc 231 is for actuating the pull-ups of the solenoid 58 of Fig. 5, and for this purpose it is made of insulating material with a four fingered metallic commutator 258 with a brush 259 connected to terminal 205 in contact with commutator 258 at all times. A brush 260 connected to terminal 206 is so placed that it comes in contact with the fingers of the commutator in succession near the end of the revolution of the disc, after the processing of the films shall have been completed. Terminals 205 and 206 are connected to like numbered terminals of Fig. 5, and at each contact current is caused to flow from battery I94 through resistors 204 and 202, thereby sending the grid of power triode 208 positive and causing the solenoid 51 to advance. After the first advance, the detent switch 2I6 opens and remains open, so that the relay 220 falls out, thereby opening contacts 22I to 224 so that the motor 232 continues to run only due to the closure of detent switch 255. When the detent switch 255 opens 13 at the completion of the revolution, the motor 232 comes to rest, and remains at rest until the next set of pictures is taken and brought into position for processing.

The third disc 238 is for controlling the processing of the film by methods described by Tuttle and Brown in their paper, SMPTE, February 1950, aforementioned, from which it is apparent how the disc 235i and other equipment not shown can be used in developing, fixing, washing and drying the recorded pictures. A timing schedule for this purpose is shown in Fig. '7, together with the schedule for advancing the film to the projection position by the timer wheel 231. In this manner it is apparent how the medium speed timing is carried out and reset.

Referring now to the slow speed timing, making use of motor 239. This drives a detent disc 243 with a detent switch 261 with armature 262 and front contact 253, the former being connected to the motor terminal 25! and to a back contact 264 of relay 2 31, while the latter is connected to power terminal 23l and to the armature 255 of relay 241, which is normally held against bacl; contact 25 by a spring 256. The motor 232 is driven as long as both the relay 241 is not closed and as long as the detent switch 2c: is not open. The relay winding 261 of relay 24? is connected across the output D. C. terminals of rectifier 245, which is powerized only when motor 232 is operating. It is clear, then, that when the processing operation starts, as indicated by energization of the motor 232, the relay 2A1 closes, thereby opening relay contact 284 to 265. There-- upon the motor 239 will come to rest as soon as the detent switch 26! opens to disconnect motor terminal 2M from power terminal 23 i. The motor 231 will again be put into operation as soon as the motor 232 stops, thereby indicating the film has been processed and ready for projection. The detent switch provides that the motor 239 will stop just when the lamp timing disc 21 5 has come to a position for energizing the lamp M for projecting the first picture of the set being processed. Accordingly provision is made for first projecting the first picture of a set.

Reference to Fig. 7, it is clear that the projection timer normally makes a revolution in much greater time than the revolution of the process timer. In order to be sure that the mot-er 235 will come to reset in the position indicated, it is necessary to speed up the rotation of the disc 24-3 as soon as the motor 232 starts. For this purpose, the speed changing solenoid 2% has its winding 210 connected acros the output terminals of the rectifier 245, so that when the motor 232 is powerized, the solenoid 24%? operates to change the gear set 24! to drive the timing discs 243 and 222- at slightly higher speed than the disc 236. Under these conditions, the disc 243 will always come around to its detent position sooner than the disc 2235 comes to its detent position, so that the projection cycle will always be properly reset to first project the first received picture.

The lamp circuit is controlled by the timer disc 244 in cooperation with the relay 222. The lamps A l, 45 and 4%, together with terminals 41 to 52 correspond to similarly numbered devices in Fig. 3. Terminals 48, 52, 52 are joined together and connected to back contact 21! of relay 241, against which armature 212 is normally held by a spring 213. Armature 212 is connected to power terminal 23!. However, power terminal 230 is connected to a brush 213 which at all times engages a commutator 214 of timer disc 244, and

F play cycle; for blanking out t the lamp terminals 41, 49 and 5| are connected to evenly spaced brushes 215, 216, 211 respectively. The commutator is so fashioned that only one of the brushes 215, 216, 211 makes contact with commutator conductor 214 at a given time. Normally, as the disc 244 turns, the lamps 44, 45, 46 are illuminated in turn to project the three processed pictures in turn and in correct sequence upon the TV news screen E2 of Figs. 1 and 2. However, when the motor 232 is energized, indicating a new set of pictures ha been recorded, the relay 241 closes, opening the connection from armature 212 to contact 211 and preventing the illumination of any of the lamps 44, 45, 46 until the motor has stopped.

The blanking out of the TV news material during the processing period is desirable for two reasons. First, in order to reset the projection cycle, the projection timer has to be speeded up, so that there would be insufiioient time to read each TV news frame during the speed-up, and therefore, it appears better to discontinue the projection altogether. Secondly, the TV news material may include commercial advertising, which may conflict with other commercial advertising sent over the same television channel. It is contemplated that the TV news will be sent during the changeover from a lon program to the interprogram period of the order of forty seconds during which much of short time commercial advertising is presented over the TV program screen ll of Figs. 1 and 2. By blanking out the TV news screen l2 during this interval, there will be no conflict with other commercial interests using short intervals of commercial time. It is further contemplated that some of the value or the TV news will be to shorten the breaks in the long time programs which are necessary for presentation of extraordinarily important news flashes, or even the complete abandonment. Under such conditions, the TV news material may indicate that it was sent by courtesy of the sponsor of the long time program which furnished the transmission time.

Thus by blanking out the TV news completely, during the short time commercial presentations,

providing for acknowledgment .of time supplied during the long time programs, the TV news service can be rendered with the least possible conflict with the sponsors of the TV program material.

This invention therefore, provides for reception of a quick transmission of a considerable quantity of television news information over a standard television channel in a short of time on the video channei; for timing the recording of this information so that only the desired material will be recorded; for putting the recorded material into position for processing; for resetting the recording mechanism for processing the material and placing the material in position to be displayed on a screen; for resetting this proc essing cycle; for displaying the information in repeated rotary sequence; for resetting the disdisplay when a new set of pictures being processed.

Various modifications of this invention can be made by those skilled in the art. Accordingly the invention is not to be limited to the mechanism of the devices specifically disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A system for receiving, recording and projecting a series of still pictures received over a television channel during a break in a continuous television program, comprising a television recei'ver having means responsive to received talevision signals to produce an image on a tele vision screen, a focused on and having means to photograph in on a sensitized surface camera having a shutter, a control member connected to trip said shutte for photographing said image, a trip circuit con-- nected to actuate said control member, process ing mechanism having means to process said sensitized surface to form a permanent image thereon, stepping m chanism having means to advance said sensitized surface through said camera and into said processing mechanism an amount to successive images on successive portions of said surface, a stepping circuit connected to actuate said stepping mechanism, timing means, means controlled by actuation of said timing means, to energize said trip circuit and said stepping circuit in timed sequence to photograph a plurality of images in succession, means controlled by actuation of means to advance said surface after each expo ure, means controlled by actuation oi said timin means to advance the exposed surfaces into said processing mechanism for croces means responsive to a predetermined receive signal to initiate the operation of timin means, a second timing means, means controlled by act tion of said second timing means, to control operation of said processing mechanism and then to actuate said stepping mecha sm said processed surfaces out 0. id mechanism, and means actuated by sa- 5- ing means to initiate the operation; of timing means.

2. A system for receiving, recording and projecting a series of still pictures received over television channel during a in a: in a continuous television program, comprising a television receiver having means responsive to received television signals'to produce an image on a television screen", a camera focused on said screen hav ing means to photograph said image on sensitized surface said camera having a shutter, control member connected to tri said shutter for photographing said image, a trip circuit connected to actuate said control member, processing mechanism having means to process said sensitized surf ace to form a permanent image there on, projecting mechanism having means to pro ject an image onto a projection screen, stepping mechanism having means to advance said sensitized surface through said camera, through said focussing mechanism and into said projecting mechanism in sequence, a first timing means, said timing means passing through a cycle upon actuation thereof, means to actuate said trip circuit and said stepping mechanism in timed sequence to photograph a plurality of images in succession, means to advance said sensitized surface after each exposure and to advance the exposed surfaces into said processing mechanism, means responsive to a predetermined signal received over said television channel to initiate the operation of said timing mechanism, a second timing means,

Ill

means controlled by'actuation' of. said: secondatirming means to pass through a cycle to: control said. processing mechanism for processing said exposed surface and to advance the processed surface' into said projecting mechanism, means responsive to said first timing means to initiate the operation of said second timing means, a third timing: means having means to control said projecting mechanisms to project said images in sequence onto screen, and means responsive to said second timing means to initiate the operation of. said third timing means.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2' in which said projecting mechanism includes means projecting said images in timed sequence in a repeated cycle.

a. A system as claimed in claim 2 in which said projecting mechanism comprises a plurality of projecting stations each having a light source focussed on said screen and spaced to project 8 plurality of images from successive positions on said surface and said third timing means includes means successively energizing said sources. so as to project said images. in timed sequence;

5. A system as claimed in claim 2 in which said. projecting mechanism comprises a plurality of projecting stations each having a, light source focussed on said screen and spaced to project a. plurality of images from successive positions on said surface and said third timing means includes means successively energizing said sources as to project said images in timed sequence and in a repeated cycle.

A system as claimed in claim 2' inwhich said first timing means comprises an electroniccounter, and said second and third timing means each comprise an electric meter and contact members actuated thereby.

7. A system as claimed in claim 2 in which said first timing means comprises an electronic countr, and said second and third timing means each comprise an electric meter and contact members actuated thereby, said meters being adapted to drive said contact members at different speeds whereby the projecting cycle comes a longer period of time than said processing cycle.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 in which means is provided responsive to the initiation of said processing cycle to interrupt said projection. light sources and to cause said projection cycle meter to operate at an increased rate until it reaches a point at the beginning of a projection cycle,

JOHN HAYS HAI /iMQlfil-D, JR. ELLISON S. PURINGTON.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,1743% Somers Sept. 26, 1939 2,275,898 Goldsmith -2 Mar. 10, 1942 2,373,114 Goldsmith Apr. 10, 1945 2,420,029 Brady May 6, 1947 2,504,734 Schmidling 2. Apr. 18, 1950 2,555,366 Gray Aug. 21, 1951 

